Abysmal Sensor Cleaning at Looking Glass Photo (Berkeley, CA)

This blog post will stray somewhat from my past posts as I chat about another topic, camera sensor cleaning, especially the camera sensor cleaning service being offered at Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley, CA. I have been going to Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley, CA since 2016 for DSLR sensor cleaning (specifically on my Canon DSLR). They have always gotten my sensor mostly clean every time I went. Something changed this time. I wonder if they are under new management, or maybe it has something to do with their store break in sometime in February 2025 and them moving to a new temporary location. However their sensor cleaning service is now abysmal.

Due to the very good service I have had in the past, I decided this time to bring in my father's Canon mirrorless as well for cleaning, because he accidentally smudged a thumbprint on his sensor (it was relatively clean otherwise). For me, I had 4 dust spots on my Olympus mirrorless, however I introduced more as I made attempts to clean with an air blower, and on a few occasions left some smudges on the sensor too. $120 later, Looking Glass Photo made the sensors more dirty, granted they did remove the thumbprint, along with the smudges. They "recleaned" the sensors for after the first time, however all they did was make the sensors more dirty. I will never be back at this place again. I still have to buy equipment to clean the sensors myself, except I'm now out an extra $120 for the so called "cleaning".

When you look at these photos, please know that Google compresses them so you might not be able to see all the dust I see.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II (1st Clean)

Olympus Pen E-PL9 (1st Clean)

Olympus Pen E-PL9 (1st Clean)

Canon EOS R6 Mark II (2nd Redo Clean)

Olympus Pen E-PL9 (2nd Redo Clean)

Olympus Pen E-PL9 (2nd Redo Clean)

The quality of service at Looking Glass Photo clearly went down hill. 

Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Part 1) - Walnut Creek, CA

On the 3rd May 2025, my parents and I took a trip to Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, CA, Dinosaur Hill Park in Pleasant Hill, CA, and John Muir National Historic Site, Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline, and Martinez Marina in Martinez, CA. I took photos on my phone and on my Olympus mirrorless camera, and the photos are split into 3 posts. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

High Resolution Photos: If you want to see high resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To view my best zoo photos, use this link. To see all of my photos from Lindsay Wildlife Experience, use this link.

Parts: 1 | 2 (Coming Soon) | Cellphone Photos

This blog post is part 1 of my Olympus photos. The photos are from Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, CA.

Message From The Photographer: Unfortunately this past month was just horrible for me with Long COVID, and I was bedridden for most of it. The photos were delayed due to that.

Our first stop of the day was Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek (1931 1st Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597). It was free admissions day that day celebrating the museum's 70th year anniversary. It was super crowded that day, and finding parking was a pain. Lindsay Wildlife Experience is a wildlife veterinary hospital, zoology museum, and small zoo all-in-one. I had a lot of fun seeing all the animals, both alive and taxidermy, and I even got to see a veterinarian weighing baby raccoons.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of Penelope the North American Porcupine (Erethiszon dorsatum) eating walnuts.

A photo of a Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

A photo of a Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: 1 | 2 (Coming Soon) | Cellphone Photos

Monterey, CA & Pacific Grove, CA (Cellphone Photos)

On the 17th May 2025, my parents and I took a trip to Monterey, CA and Pacific Grove, CA. We visited Coast Guard Pier, Monterey State Historic Park, Presidio of Monterey, Lovers Point Park, and more. I took photos on my phone and on my Olympus mirrorless camera, and the photos are split into 2 posts. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Coming Soon) 

This blog post has the cellphone photos I took. The photos are from several locations in Monterey, CA and Pacific Grove, CA including places like Coast Guard Pier, Monterey State Historic Park, Presidio of Monterey, and Lovers Point Park.

Message from the Photographer: Unfortunately my Olympus mirrorless camera's lens failed half way during our day trip this time. Luckily it is just a cheap kit lens, so I have a new one on the way. It would seem the internal motor failed in the lens (camera body is fine). Probably the first message you've seen that didn't involve Long COVID (LC)! However there is a little update on my health as well. My LC doctor and I are trying different doses of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) to see which dose works the best. I am by no means back to normal as the COVID infection left me with quite a number of health problems, however the LDN is helping me with energy to a certain extent at the cost of side effects.

Since we hit Monterey, CA first, we parked at Presidio of Monterey and walked a loop around the coastal wharf areas. I first checked out the museum at the presidio, and also the Sloat Monument (no photos). After that we walked over to San Carlos Beach and Coast Guard Pier.

A photo of sea lions on rocks. The photo was shot at Coast Guard Pier in Monterey, CA.

A photo of sea lions on rocks. The photo was shot at Coast Guard Pier in Monterey, CA.

A photo of sea lions on rocks. The photo was shot at Coast Guard Pier in Monterey, CA.

Then we walked along the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail, and looped over to California's First Theater in Monterey State Historic Park.

A scenery photo of the garden behind California's First Theatre in Monterey State Historic Park in Monterey, CA.

A photo California's First Theatre in Monterey State Historic Park in Monterey, CA.

Next we started walking back toward Presidio of Monterey, CA to get back to our car.

A photo of the monument at the Vizcaíno Serra Landing Site. The photo was shot on Pacific Street (near Presidio of Monterey) in Monterey, CA.

After we got back to Presidio of Monterey, I ate the burrito I bought earlier in Sand City, CA. I was starving at this point.

A photo of the Junipero Serra Monument at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, CA.

After my parents and I finished our lunch, we headed to the location in Pacific Grove, CA that my father wanted to visit, Lovers Point Park. Due to long COVID, I was moderately tired at this point so I mostly rested in the car, until this "friendly" seagull decided to interrupt my nap.

A photo of the seagull that pooped on our car, along with Monterey Bay Coastal Trail on the right. The photo was shot on Ocean View Blvd (near Lovers Point Beach) in Pacific Grove, CA.

A photo of the seagull that pooped on our car, along with Monterey Bay Coastal Trail on the right. The photo was shot on Ocean View Blvd (near Lovers Point Beach) in Pacific Grove, CA.

A photo of the seagull that pooped on our car, along with Monterey Bay Coastal Trail on the right. The photo was shot on Ocean View Blvd (near Lovers Point Beach) in Pacific Grove, CA.

Maybe you can guess what happened after. I was napping in the passenger seat when this thing landed on our vehicle. It quickly occurred to me that the seagull will want to poop on our vehicle. I tried to shoo it away however it didn't budge. I think the seagulls around this area are used to humans as there are way too many. Anyways, the seagull looked at me dead in the eyes and let it rip. 😑 You can see the clear streak underneath the bird in the first photo.

I didn't get much of a nap after that seagull encounter, plus I had to use the bathroom. I took a small walk around the Lovers Point Park area. The parking spaces in this area is very tight, I had to climb over to the driver's seat before I could get out, as the passenger side door is blocked in.

A photo of Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove, flowers, and clouds. The photo was shot at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove, CA.

A photo of squirrels and a seagull. The photo was shot at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove, CA.

A photo of squirrels and seagulls. The photo was shot at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove, CA.

A photo of Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove, flowers, and clouds. The photo was shot on the trail by Ocean View Blvd in Pacific Grove, CA.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Coming Soon) 

Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez (Cellphone Photos)

On the 3rd May 2025, my parents and I took a trip to Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, CA, Dinosaur Hill Park in Pleasant Hill, CA, and John Muir National Historic Site, Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline, and Martinez Marina in Martinez, CA. I took photos on my phone and on my Olympus mirrorless camera, and the photos are split into 3 posts. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Parts: 1 | 2 (Coming Soon) | Cellphone Photos

This blog post has the cellphone photos I took. The photos are from Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, CA, Dinosaur Hill Park in Pleasant Hill, CA, and John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, CA.

Our first stop of the day was Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek (1931 1st Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597). It was free admissions day that day celebrating the museum's 70th year anniversary. It was super crowded that day, and finding parking was a pain. Lindsay Wildlife Experience is a wildlife veterinary hospital, zoology museum, and small zoo all-in-one. I had a lot of fun seeing all the animals, both alive and taxidermy, and I even got to see a veterinarian weighing baby raccoons.

A photo of one of the events they had going on that day at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

A taxidermy of the extinct California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos californicus) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

I had no clue that these California Grizzly Bears were this big. This is way bigger than any bears I have seen out in the wild.

A photo of me next to the taxidermy of a California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos californicus) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

Look at how big this thing is standing next to me!

A photo of me next to the taxidermy of a California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos californicus) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

A photo of Atsá the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

This was the first time in my life I saw a bald eagle. I'm surprised at how huge it is! The docent told us that this bald eagle fell out of the nest as a chick and broke its right wing. It can not fly so it can not be released back into the wild.

A taxidermy of a Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

One of the docents at Lindsay Wildlife Experience showing off Sneakers the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer).

One of the docents at Lindsay Wildlife Experience showing off Sneakers the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer).

A taxidermy of a Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

A taxidermy of an American Beaver (Castor canadensis) at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

After Lindsay Wildlife Experience, we went for lunch, before heading to Dinosaur Hill Park in Pleasant Hill, CA. At Dinosaur Hill park, it was two minutes up a few steps and we were greeted with gorgeous panoramic views of Pleasant Hill, Concord, Walnut Creek, and Mt. Diablo.

A scenery photo of Pleasant Hill, Concord, trees, grassland, clouds, and mountains. The photo was shot at Dinosaur Hill Park.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, trees, grassland, clouds, and mountains. The photo was shot at Dinosaur Hill Park.

Unfortunately it was only when I got home I realized my father's camera lens showed on the left side of my cellphone photo above. 😭

After Dinosaur Hill Park, we went to John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, CA (4202 Alhambra Ave, Martinez, CA 94553).

A photo of the historic house that John Muir lived in, trees, flowers, hills, and clouds. The photo was shot at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, CA.

The right mirror on our 2024 Ford Expedition did not automatically unfold again. The photo was shot at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, CA.

For some reason that day, our Ford Expedition mirror did not unfold again, twice in a row. The vehicle has already been approved for lemon law buy back, since Ford dealerships already attempted to fix it multiple times, and it continues happening. I don't believe it has happened twice in a row before, this was a first. It happened once when we were leaving Dinosaur Hill Park and a second time when we were leaving John Muir National Historic Site. We purchased this vehicle (2024 Ford Expedition MAX Platinum) in April 2024. We're currently looking to go up to a 2025 Ford Expedition MAX King Ranch.

We ended the day at the shoreline of Martinez, however I only took photos with my Olympus camera there, so make sure to check out that blog post!

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: 1 | 2 (Coming Soon) | Cellphone Photos